By Emily Drooby
A solemn tone filled the air at St. Boniface, as people mourned the sudden loss of Caroline Latham, the first lay principal of St. Joseph High School.
Students remembered her kindness and the joy she brought to every room she entered. Currents News frequently spoke to and worked with Principal Latham.
Eleventh grade student Maria Constable, said she was the kind of person who inspired people to be their best; “She was a really good person she wouldn’t get mad at you for the small things. She would give you second chances she would be there to talk to you. She’s an angel. I aspire to be as happy as her.”
During the service, they offered up little hearts, each one a different memory of Principal Latham, a way in which she affected their life.
Eleventh grade student, Marilyn Pauta, recalled a time Principal Latham helped her attend a program at Boston University; “It was 600 dollars to get in and, in my family, 600 dollars is a lot for one person, so Mrs. Latham offered to pay the money from her pocket for me to attend that program. It was a moment of shock. I was like wow, this woman, she believes in me and made me believe in myself.”
Marilyn graduates next year and wants to study nursing in college.
The school’s senior religion teacher, Timothy Sennett, recalls coming back from a three-day retreat to a special gift from Principal Latham. He explained, “I noticed an envelope with a Panera Bread gift card and a thank you note just thanking me for my role in helping to organize the retreat and she did little things like that fairly often, not just to me but to everybody.”
Sennett says Caroline Latham was very good at reminding people that they are valued members of the community.